Czech parties seal deal on centre-left coalition government

The parties of the emerging Czech centre-left coalition on Monday signed
the final version of a coalition agreement and unveiled their nominees for
17 ministerial posts. Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka says he hopes
to be appointed prime minister within days. However, the final say on his
appointment, and on the line-up of the new government, rests with President
Miloš Zeman.

Bohuslav Sobotka, photo: CTK
Leaders of the Social Democrats, ANO and the Christian Democrats signed the
final version of the coalition agreement in the lower house of Parliament
on Monday, 72 days after the general election. If appointed, the government
would enjoy a majority of 111 seats in the 200-seat lower house. Social
Democrat chair and prime minister designate Bohuslav Sobotka spoke to
reporters shortly after the document was signed.

“The emerging coalition is ready, both in terms of personnel and
programme, to assume government responsibility. I’m sure this is good
news for the Czech Republic. It brings hope for a change for the better;
hope for boosting the economy and employment, for improving the functioning
of the state and for higher stability, so that people are more content with
how things are run than they were in the past.”

The Social Democrats are set to take over eight of the nascent
government’s 17 portfolios, including those of foreign affairs, industry
and trade, interior, and labour and social affairs.

The leader of the ANO party, Andrej Babiš, is set to become the new
finance minister. His grouping, which came a close second in October’s
election, will have five other ministries, among them defence, transport
and health.

Andrej Babiš, Bohuslav Sobotka, Pavel Bělobrádek, photo: CTK
The chairman of the Christian Democrats, Pavel Bělobrádek, is to become
deputy prime minister for science and innovation, while the party is also
set to get the agriculture and culture portfolios.

Several of the nominations have already come under fire: anti-corruption
campaigners have criticised the Social Democrat nominee for health
minister, Svatopluk Němeček, for his involvement in an overpriced
procurement project. Environmentalists, meanwhile, have condemned ANO’s
candidate for the environment ministry, Richard Brabec, over his past as
CEO of a major chemicals producer.

But more importantly, President Miloš Zeman has voiced his own objections
to some of the names on the list, including Social Democrat Lubomír
Zaorálek, who is in the frame for the post of foreign minister. The
prime-minister-in-waiting, however, believes that is no reason for the
president to delay appointing the government.

“We think the president should act according to the Constitution without
delay, as there is a favourable situation in the lower house for the
establishment of a stable government.

“I don’t see any factual reasons for the president to postpone the
appointment of the prime minister. And as soon as the prime minister
presents the list of nominees, the president should respect it.”

Miloš Zeman, photo: Filip Jandourek
However, Mr Sobotka earlier threatened to take the issue to the
Constitutional Court if the president refuses to appoint the government
without reason stipulated by law.

The priorities of the new government, announced last month, include
boosting public investment, stabilizing the health and social sectors, and
curbing corruption. The controversial issue of raising taxes has been put
on hold for at least a year as the parties agreed to abstain from any
changes to the tax system until 2015.